Hidden & Dangerous 2: Courage Under Fire

This game never got the attention it deserved because it was overshadowed by Call of Duty which released around the same time. COD had better graphics, but H&D2 is the better game. I always describe it as Rainbow Six set in WW2. It's a tactical shooter. You're not running through linear paths with worthless AI. This game has huge, open maps and it's up to you to figure the best way to reach and complete your objectives. You control a group of 4 SAS soldiers. Before the mission, you pick which 4 soldiers to bring from the available roster. Each soldier has different attributes and skills, so choose wisely based on the mission you are about to do. Then you have to chose the load out for each soldier. Soldiers can only carry so much on them, more if you give them a backpack, but they're not pack mules and their carry weight is limited by their strength attribute. In mission, you can control any of the 4 soldiers and swap between them at any time while you give orders to the other soldiers. There is a tactical view, which is a bit like Rainbow Six's pre-planning, only this happens during the game. You can give waypoints to the soldiers and commands for them to carry out. I never used this mode much as I preferred to stay in first person view and give orders via the command menu or switch to a soldier and position them where I wanted them to set up an ambush or flanking attack. The missions are tough and challenging. Most missions have more than one objective and will take place over large areas or over multiple segments. One of my favorite missions had you clearing a small town in order to set up an ambush of a German convoy that was to pass through. It consisted of some intense close quarters fighting in tight city streets, followed by a what I thought was a brief bit of security while setting up for the ambush. I either missed someone or a small group of scouts came in advance of the convoy and surprised us, which kept me alert for the rest of the time setting up.

H&D2 got released at the same time as Call of Duty unfortunately, so it passed under the radar and got largely ignored. It was made by the Illusion, developers of Mafia. Why i like it: 1st or 3rd person view, plus a tactical isometric view for more detailed commands. Amazing atmosphere, sound, graphics and presentation (with so many small details and touches that all add to the above). The levels are so atmospheric and immersively crafted. You control SAS. Not American or Russian or Japanese. And it represents a different war front. Very refreshing. Great level variety. Small and large, all nonlinear and open ended. Deserts and jungles and snow and castles and ships and so on . Diverse mission objectives and how to approach them. Very well done mission briefings. Large selection of authentic weapons and gadgets that feel great. No bullet sponges. Usually you die in one or two hits , same for the enemies. Inventory management and your men all have skills. Co-op single player. Stealth option. Stealing uniforms, have to aware of making noise, being seen. Ragdolls (npcs and items) and motion capture animations. While CoD had soldiers running like ducks and dying like it was Duke3D. Vehicles. Uses the Mafia engine so all vehicles were great to control and felt realistic. You can even blow the tires out affecting handling or the fuel tank. I mean steering your Jeep left or right makes all occupants sway accordingly. Tanks tracks bend according to terrain . Vocal commands to your team mates, either loud or silent, which affects your stealth. Yes actually issuing a stealth move command your character whispers it. 4 running and crouching speeds, with precise and accurate animations. All of that for a 2003 game. I could keep going. It's just the whole game has such attention to detail it's a joy to play . Takes time to get used to the controls and the slower and deliberate gameplay but it's so rewarding.

One of the finest squad based tactical shooters of all time, right up there with rogue spear original ghost recon ect. Great settings, harsh AI and a nice little story to go with it. Great selection of weapons also. The expansion pack also is huge and this is all before talking about online where be it TvT or Coop are great experiences. Also look out for plenty of mods if you want a change after a play-through, that said they really are not needed. Definite purchase!

War is hell and this game brings you a war. Unique and non-comparable with anything else, with atmosphere thick as mercury and with hard but fair difficulty. 9/10 FPS games should learn from this. Despite this game is 15 years old, it still offers something, what most of other FPS games won't reach even with all those fancy graphic features (HD2 has nice graphics tho) and whatever else ..

I finally was able to try this game out! this game feels almost like a mix of several of some of great 'Golden-Era' Games from the early 2000's. Personally it feels like a mix of Thief II(oddly enough), Medal of Honor: Allied Assault, Commandos and XCOM. For Being a 2003 Release, some of the game mechanics and physics are quite advanced for its time. H&D 2 has managed to perfectly blend elements of stealth, FPS, squad tactics and strategy. This was the first game I've played in a long, long time where i didn't want it to end, Luckily the Campaign was long enough to greatly satisfy my need. It is refreshing to find older games that truly deliver. The game holds up quite well all over; besides the low texture resolution. H&D 2 is almost a Hidden Gem (pun-intended).